Air-lift pump.



L. T. EDWARDS.

AIR LIFT PUMP. K APPLICATIQN. FILED LAN. 31. 1917.

1,302,780. Patented May 6,1919.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEFICE.

LEVI T. EDWARDS,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T TALBOT AIR LIFT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLYANIA. f

AIELIFT mn?.

Patented May e, 1919.

Application filed January 31, J1917. Serial No. 145,593.

To all whoml t may concern lBe it known that I, LEVI T. EDWARDS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Air-Lift Pump, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air lift pumps of the type shown in Iny copending application, Serial No. 18,444, filed April 1st, 1915, and relates more particularly to the construction of the inlet section of the delivery or eduction pipe and the screen -Inechanism for retaining the earth,` sand and solid matter outside of the well proper and allowing the water to filter into the well. An object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the frictional losses incident to the movement of a column of water through the eduction pipe and thereby secure an increased output of water per cubic foot of air supplied to the well. A further object of the invention is to provide an inlet sectionfor the eduction pipe which is formed of a material adapted to maintain the friction at a minimum under operative conditions and which is tapered from one end to the other, presenting the larger diameter of the section to the incoming column of water. A further object of the invention is to provide a screen for filtering the water at the bottom-of the well, such screen being so constructed as to resist wear and become substantially a permanent filtering medium or retaining screen in the bottom of the well.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention 1s not limited to the precise ar` rangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l represents an elevation partly in section of an air lift pump embodying my invention.

Fig. 2y represents an elevation of the inlet section of the eduction pipe on an enlarged Scale.

Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the well screen on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. Fig. 3.

1 designates the well in which the air lift of my invention isadapted to be installed, and while here shown has a pipe, it may of course be of any suitable construction which is adapted to pass through the earth wall 2 with its lower end positioned in operative relation to the water chamber or water bearing stratum. y 3 designates the delivery or eduction pipe of the pump the same passing as customary within the well 1 and terminating in an inlet section 4 at its lower end whichis properly submerged in the well water or water. stratum. Located adjacent the eduction pipe 3 is the air supply pipe 5 which also extends within the well and conducts air from a compressor (not shown) to the discharge nozzle 6. In the present form of the invention the air pipe 5 terminates infa multiple head 7 Ifrom which there are a pglurality of smaller air pipes 8 connected to and communicating with, the body part 9 of the nozzle structure. By this construction it is possible to conduct the air to the nozzle in an unrestricted manner, and at the same time obtain the desired large diameter of the mouth of the inlet section 4.v The plurality of air pipes 8 are relativelyof small diameter and are positioned around the outer surface of the eduction pipe inlet section and thus take up comparatively little space. A

rlhe nozzle 6 is preferably' tubular in form being open at both ends and disposed in substantial alinement with the longitudinal axis of the eduction pipe 3 while it receives air from a suitable lateral channel as will be understood. The lower the pipe which forms the nozzle is open to form an inlet 10, the circumferential edges 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of of which are beveled to provide a sharp end of is also tapered from one vend to the other and has the larger dimension adjacent to the air nozzle so that a jet of mixed air and n located somewhat below the mouth of the `inlet section 4 as thereby an increased effi-` 1.0

ciency is obtained.

The eduction pipe 3 of my present invention is shown substantially similar to that of my copending application No. 138329, though it will be understood that the present invention is applicableto any type of eduction pipe,lthough for the best results it is to be combined with the aforesaid tapered eduction pipe. I have therefore deemed it unnecessary to illustrate the tank or reservoir into which -the eduction pipe discharges, as those details' form -no part of the present invention. The inlet section 4` is preferabl of Wooden tubular construction throug out its length, and is preferably made up of a plurality of staves 12 which are arranged longitudinally and'suitably jointed edge to edge to provide a tapering channel or bore for the passage of the water. As here shown, the'inlet section is substantially a single length of twelve feet and has a taper of approximately three inches from the larger diameter forming the mouth or inlet opening of the pipe to the smaller diameter and from which latterthe taper is reversed and merges into the taper of the major-portion of .the eduction pipe. It will be understood that the foregoing dimensions as to length, diameter and taper are merely given by way of example and I do not wish to be restricted in any manner to the exact details set forth, as ob- `viously the may be varied widely without departing rom the spirit of the invention.

In connection with the jointing and general construction of the inlet section 4, I have preferably woundthe same with suitable wire 13 or like binding means, the said winding being substantially of spiral form except at certain spaced intervals Where the wire is wound in abutting relation, as

'shown at 14, and the contacting wires then soldered as shown at15. The aforesaid winding is continued throughout the entire length of the eduction pipe 3 so that the pipe with its inlet section 4 comprises a complete unitary wire bound delivery pipe having first an upwardly converging inlet bore and then an upwardly diverging bore, the latter gradually increasing in such a manner as to maintain an approximately uniform velocity in the moving column of water. By the use of the form of inlet section herein described, I have found that the body of water set in movement by the compressed air assumes its maximum velocity gradually and with less loss due to inertia and frlction than is the case where it is projected immediately into the smallest section of the eduction pipe. The moving water entering the converging inlet section gradually increases in velocity to the moment of entering the most reduced section of the eduction pipe and the production of eddies or cross currents is thereby practically eliminated.

16 designates a screen jointed or secured to the lower end of the well 1 and serving as a means to permit Water to enter the well While {preventingI the admission of sand, earth or the like solid substances. In the present instance, the screen 16 is formed of wooden sectionsplaced edge to edge as illustrated in Fig. 5 and suitably jointed while the exterior of the yscreen is Wound with wire 17. or the like which has the same general arrangement as that described for the eduction .pipe 3, that is, at intervals the Wire is wound in contact as shown at 18 and suitably soldered as will be understood. The staves forming the screen are provided with aplurality of slots 19 so that the entire screen body is substantially of open work construction forming a filter throu h which the water can readily pass but which holds back the water bearing stratum itself. The ends of the screen are preferably provided with coupling rings or collars 20 by one of which it is connected to the welll. In the preferred form, the binding wire is copper to resist corrosion and combined with 'the wooden body of the screen forms substantially an indestructible filtering member for the purpose intended. Heretofore it has been the practice to use metal screens of iron con-struction with the result that the metal is readily attacked by the chemical content of the water and soon has to be replaced. In carrying out this'operation, it is of course necessary to shut down Vthe well and remove the eduction pipe and its adjuncts, thereby losing considerable time. By the use of the screen of my invention, these disadvantages are overcome and the screen becomes to all intents and purposes a permanent fixture at the well bottom. The slots 19 of the vscreen are of a size and arrangement suitable for the prev-ailing conditions and are of course subject to modification with each well and its requirements. In connection with the inlet section 4, it is to be understood that it is just as much a part of the eduction pipe 3 as are any of.

unbroken surface at this narrow section and therefore passes with relatively no loss due to friction. In fact the meeting portions of the two tapers are rounded to more readily merge one into the other and the line of the bore at this portion is substantially an arcof. a circle for the aforesaid purpose of guiding the flow without restriction. l

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to' give satisfactory and reliable results it is to be understood that the same issuseeptible of modifications in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What Iv claim is:

l. In an air lift pump, the combination of an eduction pipe having an unobstructed inlet section diverg'ing with a uniform taper from its connection with said pipe, a source of air supply and a nozzle located entirely below said inlet section and having communication with said air supply.

In an lair lift pump,'th`e combination of 'an eduction pipe having the bounding wall of the bore gradually increasing in crosssec tional area from the inlet end to the outlet end of said pipe, an inlet section secured to the inlet end of the eduction pipe having the bounding wallof the bore increasing from the outlet end to the inlet end, a source of air supply and a nozzle located entirely below said inlet section and having communication with said air supply.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto i signed my name.

t LEVI T. EDWARDS. 

